January 14, 2015

RIP Gruffy

I'm sad to have to tell you that Gruffy crossed the rainbow bridge last night. I kind of knew it was coming. He'd been slowing down and for the past couple days didn't leave the buck barn. His appetite was still good and he was just as talkative as ever. But at chore time yesterday afternoon I found him down and not interested in getting up, not interested in eating. He passed on shortly after that.

Pygmy goats have an average life expectancy of 8 to 10 years. Gruffy was going on 8. Bucks often have shorter lifespans because they tend to wear themselves out during rut.

He was Dan's favorite goat and has been a fixture on our homestead for the past three and a half years. We bought him to make Kinders but that never happened, so sadly, he leaves no legacy.

Thank you everyone for your kind words. Loss is never easy, and even though I'm pretty well able to remain someone emotionally detached to our critters, I always feel sadness.

Michelle, unless we had an autopsy done there's no way to know. He did not display any symptoms that caused me to think there was a disease process going on, although with animals I know it can be hard to tell. After I started him on the new mineral regimen he really perked up and started to get around better. Considering his age, I tend to think it was that. Rut was always hard on him and sometimes he would barely eat for weeks because his mind was on the does. Good Ol' Gruff.

Gill, I'd like to think that. I've lost a number of young animals so having them live to their life expectancy is a comfort. Still, I always wonder if there wasn't something I could have done to extend that somewhat. I suppose that just comes with the territory as they say.

Always hard to deal with death of a critter, no matter the cause. Gruff was a good boy and engendered many a post from you. Glad he slipped away peacefully surrounded by familiar surroundings. Gosh, we can all hope for that. The Gruffster will be missed.

I hope this doesn't come across as wrong, but I remember a while back you mentioned you were going to have to find Gruffy a home, as you were switching over exclusively to Kinders. God made that easier on you! Now you don't have to worry about him being in a good home, where he is being taken care of. He's lived out the last of his days with you, in a wonderful home, with great care! :)

I'm so sorry, Leigh and Dan. It's inevitable when we keep livestock, but most of the time is a very sad event. I always liked the looks of Gruffy, he was marked so nicely . . . a little Billy Goat Gruff.

Thank you for all the kind commiserations. It's nice to have others out there who understand.

Goodwife, I actually thought the same thing. In fact, considering his age, I was thinking it wouldn't be right to sell him. For his sake, but also because being a registered Pygmy, his price would be higher and it wouldn't be fair to sell him to someone only to have him die of old age on them. Things really did work out for the best.

Leigh and Dan, I'm so sorry to hear about Gruffy. It is hard to lose an animal, even you know it's an eventual certainty. The intellectual bit doesn't ease the pain of losing the emotional connections.

This is the saddest news. I feel like I've lost a friend. I can imagine how you guys must feel. We try and be pragmatic about the animals we keep, knowing they are livestock. But the ones you grow attached to - who are constantly part of your daily life, they are sincerely missed when they aren't there any more.

I will be sad not to hear the mischief wonderful Gruffy would've gotten into this growing season. Such a character.

Well, ya'll, I buried him this morning. Randy and Clark stood by to watch. Clark gave him a good sniff but Randy has been calling for him all day. I reckon Randy misses him most, although Gruffy and Clark were sleeping buddies.

Benita, we always say we should have kept the pelts but since Dan is on the road I did not feel like doing that. It was too cold and damp for one thing, and I just wanted to get the job done for another. Elvis (our first Kiko buck) had a beautiful coat and we've regretted not keeping his. But it was our first goat to process and we had enough on our minds without doing that too.

Harry, the Book of Revelation in the Bible mentions horses coming out of heaven being ridden by a great army. So there must be animals in heaven!

Sorry, Leigh and Dan :( We've had some losses this past year, too, but I'm always so thankful when an animal in our care passes peacefully and naturally, just as Gruffy did. I always say a prayer to St. Francis for our sick or dying animals, mostly that I would know the right thing to do for them, and it's given me a lot of comfort over the years.xo, Jaime

Leigh, I am so very sorry to hear of Gruffy's passing. You gave him a good life and I know he's running the green pastures on the other side of the Bridge. May the emptiness and hurt in your hearts be, with the grace of time, be replaced by fond and happy memories of your beloved Gruffy.Blessed be.

5 Acres & A Dream. The dream has always been to live close to the land. The 5 acres came in 2009, when my husband Dan and I bought a neglected 1920s-built bungalow on 5 acres. The goal is simpler, sustainable, more self-reliant living, and a return to agrarian values.

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